CALIFORNIA
Lodi News-Sentinel
Posted: Saturday, February 25, 2012
By Katie Nelson/News-Sentinel Staff Writer
The lawyer for a man who contends he was abused by Father Michael Kelly of Lockeford says the man is a former U.S. Air Force pilot who had to give up his career because he was haunted by repressed memories of the abuse.
The lawyer also contended during opening statements Friday that Kelly has a history of inappropriately touching children dating back to the late 1970s.
Kelly’s lawyer, however, said there is no way the popular parish priest could be guilty of such abuse.
During Friday’s court session, Kelly sat only feet from the plaintiff, who contends the priest began abusing him when he was in the fifth grade at Annunciation School in Stockton. Kelly has vigorously proclaimed his innocence. At least 20 supporters appeared in court on his behalf Friday.
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